Police: Man followed, attacked woman outside home near UW-Whitewater

ELKHORN—An Illinois man who prosecutors say followed a woman and attacked her outside of her apartment near UW-Whitewater in August pleaded not guilty to three criminal charges in Walworth County Court this week.

A 21-year-old woman told Whitewater police she was walking home from the city's bars early on the morning of Aug. 29 when she noticed a man following her, according to a criminal complaint filed Sept. 3.

The woman later identified the man in a photo lineup as DeShawn L. Washington, 23, Glenwood, Ill., police said.

As she arrived at her apartment a few blocks from campus on Carriage Drive, Washington asked to use her phone, authorities said.

When she refused, Washington started punching her and tried to pull the woman toward a dark, wooded area, according to the complaint.

A neighbor eventually came out of the apartment building, and Washington ran away, authorities said.

Washington pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of false imprisonment and misdemeanor charges of battery and disorderly conduct after a preliminary hearing Monday, court records show.